Ann St. Widening Project Ready To Begin
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One of the busiest streets in the capital city is about to get a makeover.
Montgomery city officials are finalizing plans to widen part of Ann Street and shift the intersection with straight through Federal Drive.
This is a project some thought would never happen.
Ann Street starts out as five lanes but narrows back down through a big part of the road.
Not only that, but the intersection at Madison is constantly congested.
That’s why Chris Conway. the public works director with the city says he’s happy to see the project happening.
“Right now we’re basically at the point where we’ve nailed down all the right of way acquisition, we’re about to consumate that with the property owners there. Once that takes place then we can start the construction of the project,” said Conway.
The first phase of the project will shift the Madison intersection, the second will widen the rest of the road to five lanes.
That will have a big impact on Lee High School and businesses in the area, but at least one business owner is looking forward to the changes.
“Well I think it’s a good idea. I think it heavily favors our business as far as the venue passing by us. IT will help the city overall with the flow of traffic coming here,” said Tim Thaggard, president of Colonial Shoppe.
The 2.5 million dollar project is being paid for by the department of transportation.
It’s been a long time in the works.
Conway says it’s been an idea for at least 10 years.
“It just turned into more of a headache than maybe originally conceived when it was just a friendly handshake and we can all get this done, it’ll take not time to happen,” said Conway.
“What can you say, the government moves slow, progress takes time sometimes. Maybe it’s for the best that they waited as long as they did,” said Thaggard.
Conway says he expects construction on the realignment to break ground this summer.
